Browse > Home / Archive: January 2010

Microblog 2010-01-29

January 29, 2010

  • In the Kitchen Garden Cafe Kings Heath working against the clock to fix everything I should have sorted weeks ago. All in a days work though #
  • “Wholesale / Trade list for Iron Man Records. CDs and Vinyl available for wholesale or trade.” http://hub.tm/vZqXQ #punk #birmingham #shop #
  • Last under the sun will not be playing swinging sporran tonight. Neil farringtons funeral was this afternoon.The band decided not to play #
  • Average Age of Churchgoers Now 61, Church of England Report Finds http://bit.ly/6qMXuh #
  • Moscow’s Stray Dogs Evolving Greater Intelligence, Including a Mastery of the Subway http://bit.ly/7qbGOZ #
  • COITUS,COLDWAR,RESTARTS,P.A.I.N,DREAD MESSIAH,FLEAS & LICE,MASS COMA,The Jamm,261 Brixton Rd,
    London SW9 6LH
    £10 http://twitpic.com/zag1t #
  • URBAN HAPHAZARD TAKEOVER III anti-valentines extravaganza 13.02.10 #punk http://twitpic.com/zaguc #
  • Police bastard play swinging sporran Birmingham today at 5.30pm #punk #
  • Anthrax Outbreak Cases Reach 15 http://bit.ly/8EKFRr #
  • http://twitpic.com/zjesz - Line-up times for Apocalypse Now, Sunday, Swinging Sporran, Birmingham #punk #
  • Spy drones will monitor U.K. citizens http://ur1.ca/kkzf #
  • Police Bastard European Tour Dates January 9th to 6th February 2010 http://hub.tm/FpSJb #punk #birmingham #music #tour pass it on #
  • Stumpf 30.01 Police Bastard, Last Legion Alive http://hub.tm/TKzTx #punk #
  • Police Bastard European Tour Dates January 9th to 6th February 2010 http://hub.tm/FpSJb #punk #birmingham #music #tour #
  • Sat in traffic on Hadley road on way to musoplex to pick up seano and Pete #
  • Sat in traffic on Hagley road on way to musoplex to pick up seano and Pete #
  • And so the slaveship is leaving Birmingham. Antwerp here we come. #
  • Wish you we here. The slaveship orbits London on m25 on way to Dover http://twitpic.com/zqp5v #
  • On the boat, on the way to Calais at last. Just had the best cheese sandwich ever thanks to simons kitchen. http://twitpic.com/zrbrm #
  • Just arrived in Calais, on to Antwerp now #
  • Got to Freds in Antwerp. His place is an old monastry, amazing place. There’s a woodburning stove in the sleeping place too #
  • Florence and The Machine will play two gigs at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Monday 10th May + Tuesday 11th May 2010 #
  • Last night was coldest sleeping place so far.woodburner went out, we all froze in our sleeping bags.But we’re alive and have coffee now #
  • Setting up the gear in subzero conditions. I think i might nip outside to warm up #
  • Pid and pip have just arrived. Soundcheck next #
  • On tonights menu was spaghetti with ragu. Eaten by fork, no spoons. Gig next #
  • Also on the menu…..ice cream. Delicious. They don’t do warm at this place, obviously for political reasons. Back to the gig now #
  • Trip to van required.Somewhere pete has pack of Jaffa cakes.Fire going out. Need to find wood.Fridgefreezer to climb over first #
  • Result. The squat chef has brought us a sack of coal, the band are not going to freeze to death now. Jaffa cakes have made everything good #
  • Seano has got the fire going so it’s almost safe to get up. The crusty hammer of kybosh has dealt us another night at this place #
  • Off to gig in liege later but first, defrost time….looks like trip to cafe required #
  • Seano is stoking the fire so there’s still warmth when we get back from cafe #
  • Ten Executions That Defined The 2000s http://bit.ly/dsfegb #
  • on the menu in liege tonight is spaghetti ragu with walnut bread. Brazilian crust band soundchecking in background. #
  • Something is going on in liege, when we arrived we passed tv crews filming what looked like a collapsed building that was also on fire #
  • Snow falling mixed with rain, hope the roads are ok later, may be a comic journey to get back to Antwerp later #
  • War Criminals: Arrest Warrants Requested http://ur1.ca/ku5w #
  • Why Europe doesn’t want an invasion of body scanners http://ur1.ca/ktyk #
  • Police Beating Of Honor Student Draws Attention In Pittsburgh http://ur1.ca/ktwp #
  • North and South Korea Exchange Gunfire http://ur1.ca/ktu8 #
  • Report: Bush order allowing murder of US citizens abroad still in effect http://ur1.ca/ktii #
  • Stopped at services on way back from liege. Seano has Supplied the food and drinks for 8 of us. St St ste stea….. #
  • We had a hitchhiker but she’s left her coat and run away. I think seano has frightened her away #
  • Seano has made two trips into the services…think it’s time to leave. Our hitchhiker is sat in another car but we’ve still got her jacket #
  • Off to Leipzig now, 7 hours….. #
  • Clare Edwards will be leading the music network meeting at tee, millennium point, Birmingham today 4pm-6pm. All musicians and music peop … #
  • On the way to Leipzig listening to inner terrestrials escape from new cross / enter the dragon. loud #
  • Clare Edwards will be leading the music network meeting at tee, millennium point, Birmingham today 4pm-6pm. All invited #
  • http://twitpic.com/105clw - Punk vs. Metal night @ The Old Wharf, Digbeth tomorrow ft. SLAB, Meat Hook, Ram Man,etc #
  • Two hours to leipzig and stuck in a jam stuck in a jam I am I am #
  • ‘Catcher in the Rye’ Author J.D. Salinger Dies http://bit.ly/djnbbB #
  • Made it to Leipzig at last, support bands still playing so food then gig. All good. #
  • Authorities Quietly Reverse Underwear Bomber Official Story - http://tiny.cc/mzKjo #
  • Motorist fined for blowing nose http://ur1.ca/ky10 #
  • Gig at liwi Leipzig last night was good. Sat at adriannas place drinking tea now, Berlin kopi next #
  • Home Office spawns new unit to expand internet surveillance http://ur1.ca/ky6p #
  • WHO Scientist: Swine Flu Pandemic Was "Completely Exaggerated" http://ur1.ca/ky0e #

Filed Under Other · Leave a Comment  

Microblog 2010-01-22

January 22, 2010

Filed Under Other · Leave a Comment  

links for 2010-01-15

January 16, 2010

  • Jay Reatard Rest In Peace…

    Jimmy Lee Lindsey, Jr. died in his sleep on Wednesday morning. He was 29 years old.He is survived by his mother Devonna May, his father Jimmy Lindsey, and his sisters Leslie Lindsey, Stephanie Duncan and Gara May. He’ll be missed by music fans all over the world.

    With 22 full-length albums and over 100 releases, Jay dedicated his life to music. He played nearly one thousand shows in over 20 countries around the world. He was incredibly grateful for all the support his fans gave him over the years.

    I drove Jay and his band on two tours of Europe in 2008 and again in 2009. Jay wrote good music, had a good band, played from the heart and took no prisoners. A tragic end to someone who worked so hard to make music.

    (tags: newswire)

Filed Under Other · Leave a Comment  

Microblog 2010-01-15

January 15, 2010

Filed Under Other · Leave a Comment  

links for 2010-01-14

January 15, 2010

Filed Under Other · Leave a Comment  

10 Questions for Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry answered by Andy Derrick

January 14, 2010

1. In your view, what is the current state of the region’s “Independent Music Industry?”

The people that work hard, network effectively and know the value of helping others are doing well by diversifying into other areas and applying their skills and knowledge to allied industries.

2. What do you think are it’s immediate needs with reference to the areas that you are most familiar with?

There is an element of cronyism, especially in the areas of Jazz where certain cliques have evolved and only seem to help others from within that clique.  An emphasis on reaching out to others beyond your normal circle of contacts and perhaps in other styles of music and other parts of the region will help build and share the knowledge that people have battled to build up.

3. As far as the region’s “Independent Music Industry” is concerned, what do you think shows the greatest potential for the next few years?

Small businesses that are able to capitalise on their skills bank to offer a wider range of services to their customers.

4. In recent years, there has been a range of initiatives and projects designed to support the development of music in Birmingham. Can you list 5 projects or initiatives that you think have proved beneficial to the “Independent Music Industry?”

No

5. Can you list any projects or initiatives that you think have proved “of little use or benefit” to the “Independent Music Industry?”

Gigbeth - too ambitious and too wide in genres to effectively pull in an audience.  It was trying to become the Edinburgh Festivals from the start without any evolutionary period. Was it a conference, education project, live music festival or what?

Digital Central - hamstrung from the start by the obligatory waste of time mapping the regions industry.  Some initiatives worked well like the venue development scheme, but it needed to be bigger and longer.

Creative Launchpad - I both referred clients to this project and used it myself.  The information is public domain and not particularly well explained or collated.  It seemed an expensive way to provide advice - a well put together website and helpline would have worked better.

Arts Fest - sold to performers as well worth the opportunity to perform (for free) because of the profile it would lend to their live music product.  I’ve yet to hear of anyone securing any useful opportunities as a result of appearing at this festival.

6. With regard to your answers to questions 4 and 5, do you think Birmingham should continue to pursue the idea of more initiatives and projects designed to support the development of music in Birmingham?

The projects all fail in one particular regard - the lack of industry expertise involved at the initial planning stages.  Other problems include too much rushing to complete the project as it usually starts late.  Lastly, there is never any criteria for success built into these projects.

7. If you could make any changes to, or include any new ideas for, any “strategy for supporting the development of music in Birmingham” what would your top priorities be?

Convene a panel of serious music industry individuals with a track record of activity and success from across the genre and skill spectrum to develop a series of objectives for a long term plan (10-15 years) and a series of projects that can initially support these objectives over the next five years.  Then develop a rigourous success criteria and accountability system to ensure that the objectives are met and that the projects deliver what is asked of them.

8. If you were given the task of evaluating whether a project or initiative had been successful, what would you suggest as the best indicators of success, failure, benefit or disaster for the “Independent Music Industry?”

An industry mentor should be assigned to ensure that the objectives of a project were being met and that any benefit occurring can be effectively measured.  In the case of failure, an investigation as to why and how best to learn from mistakes, support future action and castigate individuals when failures can be attributed.

9. As far as your knowledge or understanding of the region’s “Independent Music Industry” is concerned, what are it’s greatest strengths, and what are it’s greatest weaknesses?

The legacy of skills and knowledge from decades of music making and production is our greatest strength and these are not being used.  The weaknesses are that academics and individuals with a lack of real world experience, second hand knowledge and entrenched positions have the ears of the funders.

10. If you could do anything to “support the development of music in Birmingham” what would you do and why would you choose to do that?

I would establish a committee of music industry local experts to judge who should be awarded direct financial support for music business activity in the region in the form of small grants (£100, £500 and £1000).

Andy Derrick - Independent Music Industry Professional and Blogger
www.andyderrick.co.uk

The Music Network was contacted in January 2010 by a group drawn from Birmingham City Council and the Arts Council England to begin to determine an overview of the current state, needs and potential of the “Independent Music Industry” in Birmingham.

The Music Network invites people with an interest or active role within Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry to answer 10 questions. If you wish to get involved read 10 Questions for Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry and send your completed responses by January 24th 2010 by email to: info at birminghammusicnetwork.com - Thank You.

Simon Howes has also created an easy to use google survey for these questions here too.

All completed questions will be published here unless you state otherwise. Please be sure to include your full Name and any links to your website or blog so you can be credited in full as the author of the response. Views from all sides are sought so don’t be afraid to speak your mind. We all may learn something.

Filed Under News, Other, Strategy · 3 Comments  

10 Questions for Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry.

January 13, 2010

The Music Network has been contacted by a group drawn from Birmingham City Council and the Arts Council England to begin to determine an overview of the current state, needs and potential of the “independent music industry” in Birmingham.

The Music Network invites people with an interest or active role within Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry to answer 10 questions.

Completed questions will be published at http://www.birminghammusicnetwork.com unless you state otherwise. Please include your Name, biography or information about who you are and what you do, and links to your website or blog. You will be credited as the author of the response. Views from all sides are sought so don’t be afraid to speak your mind. We may learn something.

Please note, as with all funded projects, if you don’t voice your opinion a decision will be made on your behalf without any reference to you and you may not benefit from any strategy that gets agreed and put into action.

Here are 10 open questions. If you wish to get involved, please send your completed responses by email to: info at birminghammusicnetwork.com - Thank You.

Questions:

1. In your view, what is the current state of the region’s “Independent Music Industry?”

2. What do you think are it’s immediate needs with reference to the areas that you are most familiar with?

3. As far as the region’s “Independent Music Industry” is concerned, what do you think shows the greatest potential for the next few years?

4. In recent years, there has been a range of initiatives and projects designed to support the development of music in Birmingham. Can you list 5 projects or initiatives that you think have proved beneficial to the “Independent Music Industry?”

5. Can you list any projects or initiatives that you think have proved “of little use or benefit” to the “Independent Music Industry?”

6. With regard to your answers to questions 4 and 5, do you think Birmingham should continue to pursue the idea of more initiatives and projects designed to support the development of music in Birmingham?

7. If you could make any changes to, or include any new ideas for, any “strategy for supporting the development of music in Birmingham” what would your top priorities be?

8. If you were given the task of evaluating whether a project or initiative had been successful, what would you suggest as the best indicators of success, failure, benefit or disaster for the “Independent Music Industry?”

9. As far as your knowledge or understanding of the region’s “Independent Music Industry” is concerned, what are it’s greatest strengths, and what are it’s greatest weaknesses?

10. If you could do anything to “support the development of music in Birmingham” what would you do and why would you choose to do that?

Simon Howes has created an easy to use google survey for these 10 questions here

(The term “Region” as far as these questions are concerned refers to Birmingham or the geographic area Birmingham City Council works within.)

I have also quoted a number of existing articles below. I have suggested that the group should read through each of the articles and consider the content carefully.

Can anyone suggest any other existing articles that the group should read and consider that may have been omitted?

A DIGITAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES ACTION PLAN http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2008/03/06/a-digital-and-creative-industries-action-plan/

The people who control the Funding are damaging the Creative Industries in The West Midlands by Anthony J Hughes http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2008/06/12/the-people-who-control-the-funding-are-damaging-the-creative-industries-in-the-west-midlands/

Birmingham Twinned with Your Darkest Thought? by Mark Iron Man Records http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2008/11/10/birmingham-twinned-with-your-darkest-thought/

A Year later - Perspectives on the West Midlands Music Industry - Scott Roe, Solar Creations http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2008/11/10/a-year-later-perspectives-on-the-west-midlands-music-industry-scott-roe/

What is your view of the West Midlands’ music industry? by Mark Iron Man Records http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2009/02/03/what-is-your-view-of-the-west-midlands%E2%80%99-music-industry/

A Vision for the Music Industry in the West Midlands by Clare Edwards June 2008 http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2009/02/03/a-vision-for-the-music-industry-in-the-west-midlands-by-clare-edwards-june-2008/

Another view of the West Midlands’ music industry and FUNDING by Andy Ward  http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2009/02/10/andy-ward-another-view-of-the-west-midlands%E2%80%99-music-industry-and-funding/

Countercultural Capital & the Creative Economy - How do 1990s DiY Music ‘Entrepreneurs’ talk about the contemporary music business?” by Charlotte Bedford 2008 http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2009/06/04/countercultural-capital-the-creative-economy-how-do-1990s-diy-music-%E2%80%98entrepreneurs%E2%80%99-talk-about-the-contemporary-music-business-by-charlotte-bedford-2008/

Funding the Creative Industries by Andy Derrick 13th Feb 2009 http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2009/02/13/funding-the-creative-industries-by-andy-derrick-13th-feb-2009/

The Scottish Music Industry Association(SMIA) - launched at Go North conference http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2009/07/21/the-scottish-music-industry-associationsmia-launched-at-go-north-conference/

Redefining the Music Industry - A public consultation on the future shape, needs, direction and ambitions of the music industry. http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2009/09/10/redefining-the-music-industry-a-public-consultation-on-the-future-shape-needs-direction-and-ambitions-of-the-music-industry/

National Survey and Mapping Exercise assessing provision & scope of music support work across UK 2009 http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2009/09/22/national-survey-and-mapping-exercise-assessing-provision-scope-of-music-support-work-across-uk-2009/

How does Iron Man Records choose it’s artists and how does it promote them? http://birminghammusicnetwork.com/2009/11/28/how-does-iron-man-records-choose-its-artists-and-how-does-it-promote-them/

your comments please…..

cheers Mark - The Music Network, January 2010

Filed Under News, Other, Pitch, Strategy · 11 Comments  

links for 2010-01-08

January 9, 2010

  • Police Bastard Tour Dates January 9th to 6th February 2010 | Iron Man Records
    Here are the confirmed dates for Police Bastard

    Police Bastard Tour January / February 2010

    * 9 Jan The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth, England
    * 10 Jan The Grosvenor, London, England
    * 16 Jan The Snooty Fox, Wakefield, England
    * 17 Jan Rockers, Glasgow, Scotland
    * 18 Jan Henry’s Cellar Bar, Edinburgh, Scotland
    * 21 Jan Sawyers, Kettering, Northants, Midlands
    * 23 Jan The Swinging Sporran, Birmingham, Midlands, England
    * 26 Jan De Koevoet, Antwerp, Belgium
    * 27 Jan Le Carlo Levi, Liege, Belgium
    * 28 Jan Liwi, Leipzig, Germany
    * 29 Jan Kopi, Berlin, Germany
    * 30 Jan Stumpf, Welfengarten 2c Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
    * 31 Jan Hafenklang, Hamburg, Germany
    * 3 Feb Friese, Bremen, Germany
    * 4 Feb AK44, Giessen, Germany
    * 5 Feb Sonic Ballroom, Cologne, Germany
    * 6 Feb Crowbar, Groningen, Netherlands (Birthday Party Show)

    (tags: newswire music birmingham punk policebastard)

Filed Under News · Leave a Comment  

Microblog 2010-01-08

January 8, 2010

Filed Under Other · Leave a Comment  

XOVA - The R GENERATION and needless life lost in the Afghan and Iraq war

January 7, 2010

Flyer for Gig on FRIDAY 8th JAN 2010 at THE HARE AND HOUNDS, £3 TO GET IN

The R GENERATION track is about the needless life lost, on all sides, in the Afghan and Iraq wars , we dont blame the soldiers who are doing there job, we blame the corrupt Governments and their supporters, for sending them to war and for lying to the people of the world on why we went to war. Wayne the singer wrote the track after a friend of his Joe Murphy from Castle Brom was killed.

XOVA are intending to stand for the next election to highlight the peoples concerns on the unjust wars and unwanted wars, single parents, knife and gun crimes, corrupt goverment policys were they spend millions on smoke and mirror policies instead of feeding and helping  the poorest (the majority nowadays) - GORDON BROWN AND HIS GOVERNMENT ARE TO BLAME and we as people have to vote them all out.

XOVA new album THE PRESSURES OF LIFE and the single R GENERATION are on ITUNES NOW, Also there are various remixes of the single by DUBNINE, G CORP nad ZONED OUT all on ITUES as well

XOVA website is WWW.XOVALIVE.COM or WWW.MYSPACE.COM/XOVALIVE

In addition to the political tracks we throw a lot of love and Irie vibes into the mix and a wicked stage show and XOVA could well be the New band of the year from Birmingham
STEVE HUGHES

Filed Under Events, News, Other, tour dates · Leave a Comment  

Microblog 2010-01-01

January 1, 2010

Filed Under Other · Leave a Comment  

Microblog 2010-01-01

January 1, 2010

Filed Under Other · Leave a Comment